2018 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 22 - Public Schools
Article 13 - Courses of Instruction and School Programs
Section 22-13-28.2 - K-5 plus pilot project; purpose; eligibility; application; reporting and evaluation.

A. "K-5 plus" is created as a four-year pilot project that:

(1) extends the school year in participating public schools by at least twenty-five additional days for students in kindergarten through fifth grade; and

(2) measures the effect of the provided additional time on literacy and numeracy.

B. The purpose of K-5 plus is to demonstrate that increased time in kindergarten through fifth grade:

(1) narrows the achievement gap between certain disadvantaged students and other students;

(2) better prepares elementary students for success in middle and high school;

(3) improves truancy rates at all school levels and improves dropout rates in high school; and

(4) increases students' cognitive skills and leads to higher test scores for participants.

C. K-5 plus shall be administered by the department and shall provide funding to successful public school applicants that extend their school calendars for kindergarten through fifth grade by at least twenty-five instructional days prior to the beginning of the regular school year.

D. K-5 plus shall be conducted upon application in public schools at which either eighty percent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch or the school has a D or F school grade at the time the public school initially applies for the pilot project. Public schools that conduct K-3 plus programs may apply to participate in the K-5 plus pilot project, and the department shall give priority to those public schools that have a current K-3 plus program. The pilot project shall be conducted in no more than twenty public schools.

E. The department shall determine application requirements and procedures and criteria for evaluating applications. In evaluating applications for K-5 plus, the department shall grant priority to those public schools with research-based, scientific reading strategies and programs. An applicant shall demonstrate that its K-5 plus pilot project will meet all department standards and employ only qualified teachers and other staff.

F. K-5 plus shall be funded at no less than thirty percent of the final unit value per student established as of January 31 of the current calendar year. Up to two percent of the money received by a school district or charter school shall be used to ensure regular attendance by K-5 plus students. Funding for individual public schools shall be based on enrollment on the fifteenth day of the project.

G. School districts and charter schools that meet the qualifications for K-5 plus funding may submit applications by March 15 for the succeeding fiscal year. The department shall notify all school districts and charter schools by February 1 that applications will be accepted until March 15. The notification shall include the application and any requirements for supplementary documentation. Applications may be submitted electronically or by mail or other delivery. Public schools that are awarded funding for K-5 plus for the next school year shall be notified by April 15 of the calendar year.

H. The department shall provide additional professional development for K-5 plus teachers in how children learn to read. The department may use up to four percent of any appropriation made by the legislature for the K-5 plus pilot project for professional development for participating educators and department administrative costs.

I. Teachers and educational assistants shall be paid at the same rate and under the same terms as teachers and educational assistants are paid for regular educational programs.

J. Students participating in K-5 plus shall be evaluated at the beginning of each grade year, and their progress shall be measured through department-approved summative assessments.

K. The department shall establish and implement reporting and evaluation requirements for participating public schools, including students and pilot project assessments. The department shall provide interim and final reports annually to the legislature and the governor on the efficacy of K-5 plus.

L. In addition to legislative appropriations for the K-5 plus pilot project, the department, school districts, public schools and local communities shall seek public and private gifts, grants and donations to benefit the pilot project.

History: Laws 2016, ch. 62, § 1.

Emergency clauses. — Laws 2016, ch. 62, § 3 contained an emergency clause and was approved March 7, 2016.

Temporary provisions. — Laws 2016, ch. 62, § 2, effective March 7, 2016, provided that the rules promulgated by the public education department for the K-3 plus program shall apply to the K-5 plus pilot project until new rules can be adopted. The provisions of Subsection G of Section 1 of this act notwithstanding, the department may extend the deadline date for applications, but such extension shall not interfere with the April 15 date of notice of awards. The department shall notify all school districts and charter schools immediately when this act has become law and provide the school districts and charter schools with the appropriate deadline dates for the first year. The legislature encourages the public education department to notify school districts and charter schools of a tentative schedule prior to this act being signed into law.